Hip infection lawyers note a warming blanket used in surgical procedures may become the subject of an Iowa Bair Hugger lawsuit. The warming blankets have been alleged to cause severe infections, and lawsuits claim that the blanket’s manufacturer did not disclose the risks associated with using the warming blanket. Infections attributed to the use of the warming blankets reportedly resulted in amputations and multiple surgical treatments for some patients.
If you or a loved one developed a severe infection after undergoing hip or knee replacement surgery, a heart procedure, or some other type of surgery, contact Attorney Group for Iowa to learn more. We offer free, confidential, no obligation consultations. We can help answer your questions, and if you choose to pursue a claim we can connect you with an affiliated Iowa Bair Hugger lawsuit attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
What is a Bair Hugger Warming Blanket?
The Bair Hugger warming blanket is manufactured and distributed by the 3M Corporation. It is commonly used to regulate body temperature and prevent hypothermia in surgical patients. The blanket uses a process known as forced air warming (FAW) where heated air is blown through tubes in the blanket and out onto a patient’s skin. The FAW method has been claimed to be more efficient and more effective for surgical patients than using electric blankets or heated blankets.
How Do Bair Hugger Blankets Work?
The Bair Hugger blanket consists of an electric motor and fan, an electric heating element, a thermostat, an air filter and a hose. The blanket is placed over or under the patient during surgery. The patient’s exposed skin is warmed when heated air blows into the blanket. This method is thought to be more effective than using dryer-heated blankets or electric blankets on surgical patients.
Alleged Risks of Bair Hugger Warming Blankets
There are various risks alleged to be associated with the Bair Hugger blanket, including the possibility for it to catch fire and burn the skin.
However, a serious risk associated with these blankets, as alleged in lawsuits, is that pathogens can reportedly collect in the blanket’s heating system and deposit bacteria into a patient’s surgical site, increasing the risk of an infection and necessitating more surgical procedures.
Iowa Bair Hugger Lawsuit Expected
Lawsuits have been filed claiming that the manufacturer of Bair Hugger warming blankets was negligent, that it failed to properly warn patients of the dangers associated with using these blankets, and that the manufacturer should be held liable for selling a product that was dangerous. More specifically, some of these lawsuits claim that the maker of these devices:
- Did not thoroughly test the Bair Hugger FAW system before the blankets were released into the marketplace
- Misrepresented their safety and effectiveness
- Continually produced, advertised, and marketed them even after they knew that using the blankets resulted in dangerous consequences
- Sold them to medical centers without including a warning that there were dangerous risks associated with using the blankets
Affected patients are encouraged to seek the assistance of an Iowa hip infection lawyer to help them understand their options.
Injured Patients May Be Entitled to Compensation
Medical device makers have a duty to provide safe products. If there are risks of harm associated with their devices, they also must provide adequate warnings. If a device maker fails to fulfill this duty, it could be held liable for injuries that may result.
Patients who suffered severe infections from a Bair Hugger warming blanket may be entitled to compensation for damages, including:
- Medical expenses
- The permanency of the injury
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish
- Loss of income or ability to work
If a patient dies from their infection, family members may be entitled to compensation for the wrongful death of their loved one, including:
- Conscious pain and suffering of a loved one prior to death
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish from the loss of a loved one
- Funeral expenses
Patients who have suffered severe infections from Bair Hugger warming blankets, as well as the families of those who have died as a result of complications with the device, are encouraged to seek the advice of an Iowa Bair Hugger lawsuit attorney to learn more about their rights and remedies.
Contact Us For More Information
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Iowa for more information. You can fill out the form on this page, call us at the number listed at the top of the page, or email us at info@attorneygroup.com.
When you contact us, an attorney will follow up with you to speak with you about your case or answer questions that you might have. There is no cost or obligation to speak with us, and any information you provide will be kept confidential.
Please note that the law limits the time you have to pursue a claim for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.
See our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information, and contact Attorney Group for Iowa today.
